Biomethane production

The purpose of the Biomass Electricity Sustainability Ordinance is to ensure the sustainability of the generation of electricity and heat from liquid biomass and serves to implement the requirements of the Renewable Energy Directive (RED II). Section 22 defines recognized proof of sustainability based on the Biomass Electricity Sustainability Ordinance in more detail. The verification of the regulatory requirements of the BioSt-NachV is also part of this authorization.

Renewable Energies Act (EEG)

If the production of electricity from biomethane is subsidized under the EEG, proof of sustainability in accordance with RED II along the entire value chain is mandatory for larger plants from January 1, 2022.

The BioSt-NachV regulates, among other things, the requirements for plants that generate electricity using gaseous biomass fuels: From 2 MW total rated thermal input (around 840 kWel), the sustainability requirements must be met and verified (Section 1 (3)). Around 1500 to 1800 biogas plants and around 200 biomethane CHP plants are affected by this obligation to provide evidence nationwide. In practice, this means that every biomethane plant that supplies even a single CHP plant with a rated thermal input of more than 2 MW is affected.

Fuel Emissions Trading Act (BEHG)

According to the BEHG, the energy content of biomethane is assessed with an emission factor of zero, but a required proof of sustainability is listed in Section 7 (4) in connection with the authorization of the Federal Government to determine the requirements for the determination of fuel emissions and reporting by means of a statutory ordinance.

Section 8 of the corresponding Emissions Reporting Ordinance 2030 (EBeV 2030)1 states that from 2023, proof of sustainability is required in accordance with the provisions of the BioSt-NachV.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Act (TEHG)

If biomethane is counted as energy in the EU ETS, DEHSt Guideline 8.5.2 stipulates that a valid proof of sustainability in accordance with Section 3 (1) EHV, which in turn refers to Section 10 of the BioSt-NachV, must be submitted from the Nabisy database.

The Renewable Energy Directive II (RED II) regulates the transport sector as well as heating and cooling. It defines the sustainability criteria for renewable fuels. These include biomass cultivation for biofuels, mass balance verification and the greenhouse gas calculation method. Fuels can only be taken into account in the transport sector for meeting the renewable energy target if they are produced in accordance with the RED II specifications. RED II is currently being revised and primarily provides for the increased expansion of renewable energies in general and also provides new impetus for renewable gases, for example with sub-quotas for industry.

Source: Directive 2018/ 2001 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources